Who is wanted more, RN's or LPN's?

[Dezy]

I have heard some time ago that LPN's were needed less. That places were taking nursing students in the jobs of LPN's and RN's were the ones that are were more in demand.

More recently, a friend of mine who's fiance is a nurse told me that LPN's are being taught much more then before ( I don't know if these things are technically allowed) and are preferred than RN's because of the difference in pay. He said RN's were too expensive and the way things are going now, LPN's will just receive on the job training and RN's will find it more difficult to find work.

What is more correct?

[Fiona59]

Yup, AHS has LPNs in ER and I've heard down in Calgary they are in ICUs as well. Personal choice again. Never wanted to work there. I can see the appeal of ER though, the patients do leave eventually and the frequent flyers only stay a couple of hours instead of months!

[Insomniac-88]

I've noticed a few people posting in relation to what they can and cannot do as an RPN in Canada.

It's really facility specific. I work for a large multi-site hospital system as an RPN and I can draw-up and hang IV medications. I can start IV's and I can administer blood. These courses were offered to me post-grad through my employer, but once we attend the employer's in-service, we're able to perform the procedures.

I have a second job with a smaller facility, and RPN's aren't allow to do anything in relation to IV's. If the pump is beeping, we can't even back-prime the line, we have to call the RN. We also have to get our Coumadin's double-signed by RN's, as well as Insulins, where as at first job, there's is no double signing for any meds. I get paid the same rate of pay at both jobs ($26.xx + 14% in lieu). But as you can see, very different as far as allowing us to work to our full scope.

[neenad]

Hello, I am a RPN, and yes it does depend on the facility for IV meds. We can hang premixed IV meds. I took the Advanced IV therapy course at Centennial College. My question is are RPNs allowed to; 1. Flush a IV with saline.

2. Flush a PICC line after administering an antibiotic, which is going to be in the community setting. Our roles are increasing and I do have the knowledge skill and judgment however I want to practice with in my scope.

[loriangel14, RN]

I am an RPN and I can hang IV meds premixed or not and I can flush with NS.I can mix my own IV meds.I ddn't take a special course.My employer allows RPNs to access and flush PICC lines if we take the inservice on doing so.

[neenad]

I would like to know if we are allowed to flush picc lines as a RPN in the community setting. I will be adm. antibiotics through the picc and therefore shouldnt we be flushing before and after?I did take a Advanced IV Therapy course but it was more focused on starting a IV, Venipuncture and drawing blood. where do you work ?? I can also hang premixed IV meds are you allowed to prepare IV meds ?

[neenad]

Thank You so much!!!!!! I have been rewiewing like crazy all weekend... I am starting a new in the community position and have received shifts for this patient with a PICC. So I guess I would have to contact the agency to see if they have inservices.. Also when mixing IV meds do you still use the dose desired/ dose availble X amount formula and then inject into the 50ml bag NS? Once again Thank you soo much. The agency required the IV therapy Certificate before they hired me for this patient so I just wanted to make sure that I am with in my scope.

[loriangel14, RN]

If your employer is assigning you to a patient that needs IV meds via a PICC you need to be sure you have the training you need. I wouldn't attempt anything that I haven't been trained to do and I felt confident doing,especially in the community when there is no one to ask.

I do mix my own meds.Not everything goes into a 50ml bag. It depends on the med.We have a reference book and I check everything when I mix it.

[Daisy_08, BSN, RN]

Thank You so much!!!!!! I have been rewiewing like crazy all weekend... I am starting a new in the community position and have received shifts for this patient with a PICC. So I guess I would have to contact the agency to see if they have inservices.. Also when mixing IV meds do you still use the dose desired/ dose availble X amount formula and then inject into the 50ml bag NS? Once again Thank you soo much. The agency required the IV therapy Certificate before they hired me for this patient so I just wanted to make sure that I am with in my scope.

PICC lines and IV meds are within the RPN scope of practice, provided your employer allows so in their policy. However, if you have never done these skills and are not comfortable you need to ensure you have the training before doing so on your own. For example I recently had a suprapubic catheter that required changing. This was something I have never done before. I phoned my education lead so see if this was within my RPN scope of practice. She stated that if I have the knowledge skill and judgment and have an experienced nurse with me the first time then it is with on my scope of practice. So I read the how to perform the procedure in a text book, and stayed past my shift so the oncoming nurse could watch me.

It sounds like you need to review more about the IV medications. I would read in your med-surg book. Also ensure you have enough training.

Good luck